JANESEVILLE, Wis. — Power Coatings LLC, a company that specializes in powder coating metal parts, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 14 serious safety violations, including failing to protect workers from toxic substances, which can cause cancer, lung impairment and other diseases. OSHA has proposed penalties of $51,800 following a December 2013 complaint inspection of Power Coatings' Janesville facility.

LUBBOCK, Texas — Tortillas Ricas LP, doing business as Casa Rica Tortillas, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 13 serious safety and health violations with proposed fines of $48,300. OSHA cited the corn tortilla manufacturer for exposing workers to unguarded machines and electrical hazards and for failing to implement lockout/tagout procedures to protect workers who service or maintain machines.

PHOENIX — As a result of a Wage and Hour investigation, Paul Johnson Drywall Inc. severed its relationship with Arizona Tract LLC., a construction labor contractor. Beginning April 2013, Paul Johnson Drywall entered into a contract with Arizona Tract for the provision of drywall labor. Arizona Tract classified former Paul Johnson Drywall workers as "member/owners" instead of employees, which stripped them of basic worker protections afforded to employees.

DENVER — Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway has been ordered to pay more than $526,000 in back wages and other damages to two workers following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

OMAHA, Neb. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined Baltazar's Stone Inc. $40,921 for exposing workers to dangerous silica dust levels and other hazards at the Omaha stone-cutting facility. Silica exposure can cause silicosis, an irreversible lung disease, and other health hazards. OSHA began the inspection Nov. 27, 2013, after receiving a complaint. The inspection resulted in 15 violations.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,816,666 National Emergency Grant to assist approximately 450 workers affected by the closure of International Paper Co.'s facility located in Courtland, Ala.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an $876,300 National Emergency Grant to assist approximately 120 workers affected by layoffs at four companies in Middlesex County, Mass.

PHOENIX — As a result of a Wage and Hour investigation, Paul Johnson Drywall Inc. severed its relationship with Arizona Tract LLC., a construction labor contractor. Beginning April 2013, Paul Johnson Drywall entered into a contract with Arizona Tract for the provision of drywall labor. Arizona Tract classified former Paul Johnson Drywall workers as "member/owners" instead of employees, which stripped them of basic worker protections afforded to employees.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Blog, (Work in Progress), features a post by Carl Fillichio, the department's senior advisor for communications and public affairs, in which the department makes recommendations for summer reading lists and announces new additions to its Books that Shaped Work in America collection. Click here to tweet this blog post!

WASHINGTON — Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathleen Martinez and Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society President Emeritus Richard Bancells signed an alliance agreement to promote disability employment and total inclusion for people with disabilities in the workforce today at the Nationals Park baseball stadium.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an $876,300 National Emergency Grant to assist approximately 120 workers affected by layoffs at four companies in Middlesex County, Mass.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,816,666 National Emergency Grant to assist approximately 450 workers affected by the closure of International Paper Co.'s facility located in Courtland, Ala.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council, will meet Tuesday, June 17, through Thursday, June 19. The three-day meeting will take place at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20210. On June 17 and 19, the meeting will take place in C-5320, Room 6. On June 18, the meeting will take place in C-5521, Room 4. The meeting will be held from 9:00 a.m.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $5,599,860 National Emergency Grant award to assist with the cleanup and recovery efforts resulting from severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in Mississippi. These funds are being awarded to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security and will be used to create approximately 420 temporary jobs to assist with the recovery efforts.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $5,599,860 National Emergency Grant award to assist with the cleanup and recovery efforts resulting from severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in Mississippi. These funds are being awarded to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security and will be used to create approximately 420 temporary jobs to assist with the recovery efforts.

WILMETTE, Ill. — Fortune Painting Co. Inc. has been cited for 25 violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, including willful and repeat violations for exposing workers to dangerous levels of lead from lead-based paint. OSHA cited the company for failing to protect workers from serious fall hazards while restoring a home in Wilmette.

HUDSON, Ohio — Kobelco Stewart Bolling Inc., which manufactures industrial machinery, has been cited for 13 safety and health violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Proposed penalties at the company's Hudson facility total $139,000. OSHA's investigation was initiated following a worker complaint, and the investigation found repeat violations of machine guarding standards, which protect workers from lacerations, caught-in and amputation hazards.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. on behalf of four employees who received disciplinary action and unsatisfactory performance appraisals for reporting workplace injuries that occurred in Missouri and Kansas in 2011 and 2012.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy and the National Council on Disability invite the public to participate in an online dialogue on the importance of technology accessibility and usability, particularly in regards to the universal design in the development of workplace technology products.The virtual town hall runs from today, May 15, Global Accessibility Awareness Day, to Friday, May 30.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Black Bear Burritos LLC will pay a total of $232,295 in back wages to 105 workers employed at two restaurants located in Morgantown. Investigations conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division's Charleston Area Office disclosed minimum wage and overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, including requiring servers to participate in an illegal tip pool, or tip sharing arrangement. When notified of the violations, the company agreed to pay all back wages and to future compliance.